New Year is the right time to renew
commitment to your Chamber
I enjoy Christmas music -- in December. Can't stand it when
some of my favorite holiday tunes start to appear on radio and TV at about the
same time I am focused on things like the World Series. But once the
Thanksgiving leftovers are gone, I am all for hearing those familiar festive
sounds. Until Jan. 1, that is: out with the old, in with the oldies. January
means starting over. Except...
Unlike Christmas music, there are some things I don't want
to turn loose of just because the calendar changes. I like to hang onto what
was successful or enjoyable in the old year as long as I can, though there is
usually room for adjustments or improvements. Our Chamber of Commerce is doing
the same sort of thing this year as we begin the first full year of the tiered
membership program that was phased in last year.
Now, before your eyeballs glaze over at the mention of 'tiered membership program,' consider this: I could be writing about how we
should all focus on weight loss as our New Year's resolution. Feel better? OK. Have
a gingerbread cookie and chew on this: Tiered membership is the name given to
our dues structure for Chamber members. In the old days, everybody paid pretty
close to the same dues, with an allowance for non-profit groups. Members then
had opportunities to sponsor various Chamber events, such as during the annual
Hooked on Fishing Derby, and those funds helped support the Chamber's
operation.
Thankfully, some bright individual came up with a different
approach to financing that is being used by other Chambers in the United
States. We decided to adopt it last year. It works like this: Chamber
memberships are separated according to sponsorship and advertising
opportunities, ranging from the basic $225 membership to the Double-Diamond
level. If you pay more, you get more promotional and advertising opportunities
without having to dip into your budget more than once a year. It seemed like a
good way to help our members with their budgeting and to help smooth out the
Chamber's cash flow.
There is at least one challenge to tiered membership: How do
we explain this new approach in a succinct, easily understood way? We're still
working on that, as you will probably notice when you receive and read this
year's renewal information. We have tried to make it a little less daunting by
condensing the information and changing its appearance. But it is still the
same program with the same pricing that we introduced last year.
Your Chamber of Commerce is engaged in an array of
activities and connects with hundreds of people each year to represent its
members and advocate for them. Membership pays the bills for your Chamber,
which remains a largely volunteer organization but still has expenses that must
be met. Your support has helped the Chamber grow in size and influence, which
is why we need your continued participation.
So when the Christmas music fades and you switch back to
your favorite tunes please take a moment to review your membership renewal
packet and renew your commitment to the Chamber when the invoice arrives in
January. That will be music to all our ears. Have a wonderful holiday season!
Added on 12/19/2011
Filed Under
President's Message by Chamber blog
